‘Ottcat Pebtcation of he Itbennational Wooduorhers of America wh. viester Coors Ne. Vol. XX,No.9 <@es April 3, 1952 5c per copy Vancouver, B.C. Howe Defied Advice of Trade Minister Howe to trade unions propos- ing that they forego further wage increases to check infla- tion was firmly repudiated this week by IWA District Presi- dent J. Stewart Alsbury, Chair- man of the IWA Negotiating mimittee now seeking a 35- nt wage hike, He stated: “The Minister’s view of the dangers of inflation is based on a false premise. Wage increases have not been the chief contributing factor to price in- flation. The record will show that F - wage increases have been de- manded only after soaring price : levels have subjected the workers ‘to an intolerable lack of purchas- ing power. : “Inflation has invaded our zs homes mainly because of the Fed- eral Government’s failure to curb excessive profit-making, and es- tablish controls that would en- : able the average worker to secure essential commodities for his home with his take-home pay. See HOWE Page 2 TEN DEMANDS Statement released this week by the IWA District Policy Com- mittee revealed that five major contract demands will be placed before the bargaining representatives of the lumber operators on April 15. They are: A 35-cent-an-hour wage increase across the board, to be added to the present base rate and cost-of-living bonus. The present base rate with the 14-cent cost-of-living bonus is $1.43. The new base rate demanded is $1.78%4. 2 Pay for all statutory holiday,s 3 A Health and Welfare Plan. 4 Travel Time for loggers. 5 Union Shop conditions. , in addition, five other demands will be presented during negotia- tions for the purpose of revising existing clauses in the contract. 6 Improved seniority clause. 7 Revision of the hours of work clause and exemptions. Improved vacations with pay clause to provide two weeks vaca- tion after three years, and three weeks after five years. Q Guaranteed annual term of employment, or work year. 10 Guaranteed daily rate of pay for piece workers. PER CAPITA BOOST URGENT RACE RALLY VOTE ON BALLOT é Statement released this week by the IWA B.C. Dis- trict Council emphasized the importance of strengthening the financial position of the District organization for the pending contract battle by a “Yes” vote in the referendum seeking approval of a 15-cent increase in the District per capita tax. j Attention of IWA members is directed to the fact that only after careful consideration of District finances was it recom- APRIL 20 Second Annual Institute on Race Relations under the aus- pices of the Vancouver Joint Labor Committee to Combat Racial Discrimination will be held in the Central Branch of the YMCA on Sunday, April 20, commencing at 2:00 p.m. and. continuing throughout the evening with an interesting dinner session. “YES” You can make a look.like a saving—if you've got |a smart copy-writer. CCL-IWA “Schools” 1 2 48 FOR APRIL 15 TALKS Wage hike of 35 cents an hour across the board, over and above the present rate, and cost-of-living bonus will be the featured demand of the IWA in negotiations for a revised Coast master contract, it was decided by the more than 100 delegates in attendance at the Wages and Contract Conference, March 22-23: In a strenuous two-day session, the delegates who were repre- sentative of -all sections of the lumber industry, sifted out the proposals referred from the Di: trict Convention, and determined priorities in accordance with membership opinion. Finalization of the contract de- mands was then referred to a District Policy Committee form- ed of the District Officers and delegates from each Local Union. Policy Committee This Policy Committee met, as instructed, on March 81, for a three-day session, and launched preparations for negotiations, scheduled to open on April 15. Release was then made of the specific contract demands, which appear elsewhere on this page. Negotiating. Committee, ap- ‘pointed to undertake the bargain- ing on behalf of the [WA is com- prised as follows: District Negotiating Committee District President J. Stewart Alsbury, Chairman, District 1st Vice-President Joe Morris, District 2nd Vice-President S. M. Hodgson, District 3rd_Vice- President Fred Fieber, Finan- cial Secretary Jacob Holst, Lo- cal 1-363, Business Agent Rae Eddie, Local 1-357, and Presi- dent Walter Allen, Local 1-85, who was also named Secretary of the Committee. International Amity GUEST SPEAKERS at the IWA Wages and Contract Conference, March 22-23 were (left) Howard Conquergood, Education and Wel- fare Director of the Canadian Congerss of Labor, and International 1st Vice-president, Jim Dicey. mended by the District Conven- tion; ‘That the Distriet Council per capita tax be increased from 45 cents to 60 cents per month, in order that the per capita tax ayailable for the General Fund of the District Council may be increased by 15e per month. Sounder Financing The statement continues: “The funds made available to the District Council have not been sufficient for all the purposes de- -manded by’ the membership, Dur- ing the past two years, special ssments have been made ne- Start This In addition, a five-day staff training course will be held in Nanaimo during the month of October. Institutes for which plans are already in course of advanced reparation by CCL Education Birector Howard. Conquergood and the B.C. District Council, IWA, are: Kelowna .. May 3-4 Kamloops May 10-11 Pr, George ............ May 17-18 The CCL Labor Councils in the respective areas will undertake the promotion of Institutes on the following dates: October 11-12 Month Eight week-end trade union Institutes, conducted in cooperation with the Canadian Congress of Labor, will feature the educational program of the IWA this year, it Was announced this week by the District Executive Board. Four Institutes will be held in the Interior during the spring months, and four on the Lower Mainland and Van- couver Island during the autumn. FIRST DAY 9-9:30 a.m.—Registration. 9:30-1 General assem- bly, with keynote address and introduction of staff and courses, 10:30-12:30—Group sessions. 2:00-5:00—Group sessions. - SECOND DAY )-12:00-—Group sessions, }-5:00 p.m.—General Ses- ion, with audio-visual demonstrations and film program. 6:15 p.m. — Banquet, with guest speakers, _ Variation of this program at Prince George will be that the Banquet will be held on the -first instead of the second day, and will be followed by a dance. At the Interior Institutes, top- ie the keynote speckers at. the e : at the opening ceremonies. At the final banquets, the invited speakers ot The conference was summoned by the Executive of the Federa- tion in accordance with a resolu- tion adopted at the Annual Con- vention in February, proposing such action. Unanimity was reached on the following immediate program.: 1.A HOSPITAL INSUR- ANCE PLAN: According to ability to pay. At least 50% of cost from Consolidated revenue, Abolishing of Co. insurance. 2, WORKMEN’S COMPEN- SATION AMENDMENTS: From the Sloan Report—“To raise the maximum to $4,000 and the percentage to 75, as has been done in Ontario, would add an addifional cost for these two items of $3, 590,000.” 3. I.C, & A. AMEND- CCL-PAC LAUNCHED Legislative program for acceptance by the CCF in the ap- proaching provincial general election was considered and adopted at a conference of delegates from unions affiliated with the B.C. Federation of Labor within the Greater Vancouver area, March 31. 4. PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF PUBLIC UTLITIES: The taking over of the B.C. Elec- tric, B.C. Telephone and all power corporations. Operation for the benefit of the public and not for private profit. 5. 40-HOUR WEEK: Estab- lish by act of the legislature that which has been establish- a ed by our unions. 6. STATUTORY HOLI- DAYS: An Act to provide for payment of at least eight sta- tutory holidays per year. 7. TWO WEEKS’ VACA- TION WITH PAY. 8. AUTO INSURANCE: The establishing of a crown corporation to sell automobile insurance at cost. The conference heard CCF rep- resentatives, invited to attend as observers, outline the candidate Seo EC